Roberts: Shame on these legislators who failed kids

Children of the working poor remain on the outside looking in.(Photo: Anthony Kelly)

You know how sunlight is such a good disinfectant? How wormy things and all manner of creepy crawlies shy away from it?

Thought I would bring some to Tuesday’s vote to deny 30,000 children low-cost health insurance that would have cost the state nothing. A plan that leaves Arizona as the only state in the nation not participating in the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program.

For KidsCare before they were against it

First up is Sen. Nancy Barto, R-Phoenix, who voted against restoring KidsCare and proudly tweeted her disdain for the program to help parents who are working but just don’t earn enough to afford the little luxuries like health care for their kids.

One wonders then why Barto co-sponsored a bill in 2007 that would have expanded KidsCare, extending low-cost coverage to pregnant women for prenatal care. The bill, which would have cost the state about $4 million, never made it through the House.

Barton didn't respond to my request to explain how she was for KidsCare before she was against it.

Now let’s turn to their esteemed Republican colleagues.

More lawmakers loved it before they hated it

You will recall that KidsCare restoration breezed through the House in March, passing 47-12 including 24 Republican votes.

Of those Republicans who supported the bill in March, 19 voted to kill it on Tuesday including the bill’s sponsor, Regina Cobb of Kingman. Cobb said she withdrew her support for the bill because it would have blown up the budget compromise crafted by legislative leaders and Gov. Doug Ducey.

Cobb pushed for this bill all session and I believe she genuinely wanted it to pass.

As for the others? I’m not so sure. Last month, Senate President Andy Biggs – the biggest opponent to KidsCare – said it “just may be the case” that his Republican collegues in the House supported the bill publicly but privately asked him to kill it.

In other words, “it just may be the case” that legislators wanted to fool you into believing that they supported KidsCare.

18 Republicans who changed their votes

So who were the other 18 Republicans who changed their vote from yes to no?

In the Senate – which had previously been blocked by Biggs from considering the bill -- KidsCare died, 14-15 – two votes shy of passage. Two Republicans joined Democrats in supporting the bill: Carlyle Begay of Ganado and Steve Pierce of Prescott.

Sen. Jeff Dial of Chandler, meanwhile, took a walk rather than taking a stand.

Did I mention that Arizona's primary election -- the one in which most legislators are chosen -- is Aug. 30?